The artworks were curated by cultural specialist Stefan Arseni, who acquired several of the pieces as gifts.

The exhibition drew a diverse crowd of artists, associates, and foreign tourists currently visiting the city. For these travelers, the showcase offers an extra layer of cultural discovery, beautifully complementing Gjirokastër’s historic monuments and landmarks.

“The collection features a diverse range of techniques, spanning both painting and sculpture. I have nurtured my passion by gathering pieces from various regions; the selection is not limited to artists from Gjirokastra, but also includes creators from across Albania and Kosovo,” Arseni told the media.

Painter Edi Kojani noted, ‘This is an exceptionally rich collection that spans a wide range of genres, including painting and sculpture, and features various techniques. We see oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, graphic art, and pastels here.

Stefan Arseni began collecting these artworks prior to the 1990s. Having spent his entire career in cultural and artistic institutions, he has held key leadership positions, including director of the Tepelena Palace of Culture, the Gjirokastra Library, and the “Zihni Sako” Theater, as well as culture inspector for the Executive Committee. Despite officially retiring nearly three decades ago, Arseni remains deeply active in revitalizing the cultural and artistic life of Gjirokastra.

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The prime minister shared a photo showing him seated at one of the “City of Stone’s” local bars, with a cat visible nearby.

“Oh, how wonderful. Saturday in Gjirokastra,” Rama wrote alongside the photo.

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In this context, 3 drivers faced criminal charges for dangerous driving. 24 driver’s licenses were suspended. And 1,383 fines were issued for breaking traffic rules.

Police said it will keep using advanced tools on all city, suburban and rural roads to keep drivers safe.

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Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video on social networks with tourists’ impressions of Gjirokastra. Visitors from Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, Belgium, the Netherlands and other countries tell about their experiences in this city.

“I am from Australia and my favorite place in Gjirokastra is the Cold War Tunnel”, said a tourist, while a visitor from Sweden singles out the Ethnographic Museum.

“I really like the Ethnographic Museum”, she said.

The Bazaar is one of the most popular spots for foreign vacationers. “It is so multicultural and you can buy a lot of things”, said a tourist, while another singles out the combination between the Castle and the New Bazaar.

The Old Town in Gjirokastra has also left an impression on visitors. “My favorite part was the Old Town,” said a tourist from New Zealand.

The castle offers both rich history and stunning panoramas. While visitors love gazing out over Gjirokastra from above, younger guests find the displays of old cannons, armor, and weaponry equally memorable.

Among the attractions mentioned is the Ali Pasha Bridge. “I come from Belgium and what I liked most in Gjirokastra is the bridge, the Ali Pasha Bridge,” said one visitor.

The House of Zekas is another point that has impressed the tourists. “It’s a very beautiful house, we spent an hour here and just… wow!”, said one of the visitors.

Their stories are also full of gastronomic experiences. A tourist from the Netherlands, after visiting the city, said that he likes rakia.

“A glass of rakia a day keeps the doctor away, that’s what I’ve heard,” he said.

Among the tourists, there are also some Albanians from Dibra and Kicevo. A visitor from Zajazi in Kicevo, who is in Gjirokastra for the third time, appreciated the city his favorite destination.

“Gjirokastra is absolutely my favorite place,” he said, highlighting the Castle, the views over the Drino Valley and the architecture of the city.

Through visitors’ own eyes, Gjirokastra emerges as a vibrant tapestry of history, architecture, and living tradition in one of Albania’s most distinctive stone cities.

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Mayor Flamur Golemi shared in the social media highlights of the lively evening performances, which kicked off with the youth group “Nectar of poliphony.”

” Regional folk groups will energize summer nights, merging history, music, and authentic Gjirokastra hospitality into one unforgettable experience, wrote Mayor Golemi, while extending the invitation to have a taste of Gjirokastra together through the sound of iso-poliphony.

The municipality has curated a vibrant August calendar, transforming Gjirokastra into a cultural hub with art shows, folklore evenings, open-air screenings and electronic music festivals. Blending deep-rooted heritage with modern entertainment, this diverse program makes the historic stone city a premier summer destination.

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Blending classic folk songs with modern works, the repertoire highlighted Albanian musical heritage while bridging the gap between veteran performers and emerging artists.

Before Gjirokastra, the event took place in Elbasan, while it will continue in Maliq, Erseka, Durrës, Kavaja, Lushnja, Fier, Vlora and Shkodra. The organizers aim not only to provide entertainment for the public, but also to support the preservation and promotion of Albanian folk music, bringing it to public spaces and cities with rich cultural history and traditions. /j.p/p.s./

At the conference held in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, there was presented the integrated heritage management model of these two cities.

Focusing on the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Berat and Gjirokastra, the presentation introduced sustainable financing models designed to balance heritage preservation with economic growth.

The presentation detailed the role of cultural and infrastructure investments in driving tourism-led local economic growth.

The presentation showcased Berat and Gjirokastra as international models for combining heritage preservation with sustainable development. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

Commemorating a century of monetary history, the exhibition explores 100 years of the Bank of Albania (1925–2025) and the national currency (1926–2026), highlighting their pivotal role in Albania’s economic, political and social evolution.

Opening remarks were delivered by Altin Tanku (Bank of Albania), Gjirokastra Mayor Flamur Golemi, and Prefect Albana Hasani.

Their speeches highlighted the need for inter-institutional partnerships to foster public engagement with both cultural heritage and financial literacy.

The exhibition in Gjirokastra will be open to the public from April 27 to May 1, at Gjirokastra Museum, in Kala, with free admission. /e.i/a.f/r.e/p.s./

The project will provide a long-term solution for waste treatment of 12 municipalities in Gjirokastra region and Vlora-South area, guaranteeing the proper capacities until 2040.

The investment, carried out by the Ministry of Environment with the support of the European Union has a total value of around 4.43 million euros and aims to fully modernize the existing system through the construction of new infrastructure, the improvement of landfill, as well as the gradual integration of elements of the circular economy, including recycling and composting.

“This is a strategic investment for southern Albania. This project expands waste treatment capacity while ensuring European standards, reducing environmental risks, and providing a sustainable solution for seasonal, tourist-driven waste fluctuations,” said Jaupaj during the on-site inspection.

This project constitutes an important step in fulfilling Albania’s obligations towards the European Union Directives on waste management and landfills, building local capacities and supporting the transition towards a sustainable circular economy. /k.s/a.f/p.s./

According to the prefect, there have currently been observed landslides mainly on rural roads, while the relevant working groups and teams of the contracting companies are working intensively to guarantee normal traffic and safety for road users.

The presence of inert materials along several segments of the city’s roads caused by heavy rain is most obvious problem in Gjirokastra municipality. All relevant teams, including the State Police, Gjirokastra municipality, the Armed Forces and road maintenance teams have been engaged to mitigate the effects of the rainfall and bring the situation to normality.

Prefect Hasanaj said that there is no electricity supply in two municipal units; there the power supply has been cut off for safety reasons because the electrical cabins are located in areas with increased water flow. Meanwhile, the supply with drinking water is continuing normally.

“Currently, the river flows are being closely monitored, at 6.5 meters in Memaliaj and 4.4 meters in Përmet. According to her, continuous monitoring is necessary, as the increased flows can also create problems for Fier and Vlora regions,” said Hasanaj, while saying that, “The relevant units continue to monitor the situation 24 hours a day and are on standby for immediate intervention in case of worsening of the weather conditions.” /e.xh/a.f/r.e/p.s./